Tape support for venetian blinds



P 15, 1953 -R. H. WRIGHT 2,652,114

TAPE SUPPORT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed May 14, 1952 f7; 04 2515012.-Fic-s- E P 2;

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 TAPE SUPPORT FOR YENETIAN BLINDS Richard H.Wright, Bratenahl, Ohio, assignor to The Guarantee SpecialtyManufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation Application May14, 1952, Serial No. 287,665

4 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularly tocertain novel tape supporting devices suitable for use therewith.

More particularly, the tape supporting devices are suitable for use inVenetian blinds which avail of a metal head unit although the means forconnecting the tapes to the supports may be availed of in other types ofblinds.

In general the tape supports of this invention are intended to besupplied where it is desirable to use a combination head bar and tiltrail, which head bar and tilt rail includes a main supporting memberwhich is carried at one end by the usual tilting device, and at theother end mounted for rotation in or on a bracket or a combinationbracket and cord lock as is commonly provided at the present time. Thetape supports which constitute this invention are in turn carried uponthe main supporting element, whereby the Venetian blind tapes areattached thereto and depend therefrom, the usual slats being carried inthe tapes on the ladders thereof.

In the construction above generally outlined, the tapes as supported,are adaptable for manipulation into various positions for regulatinglight and air as is commonly known. The particular tape supports aresupplied so as to be readily available for attaching and detaching thetapes thereto, as occasion requires, the tapes being provided themselveswith loops at the ends thereof for engaging with supports of thisinvention.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of this inventionto provide a novel form of tape support, which is readily formed ofmetal or the like, and includes suitable provisions for quicklyattaching and detaching tapes therefrom, the tapes being provided withloops suitably formed at the ends thereof.

A further object of thi invention is to provide a novel form of lockingarrangement, which will prevent the tapes from slipping off of thesupport and permitting the blind to be actuated as is customarilydesired, without the necessity of using loose parts or other attachableor detachable parts which might become lost or otherwise damaged inhandling during assembly or disassembly of the blinds.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the tape supports innovel form, whereby the same may be made of integral constructionincluding elements which are struck out of the body of the support, andmoved into position by bending or otherwise, whereby the attributesdesired to be accomplished are available.

Other and further objects of this invention will be understood from aconsideration of the specification appended hereto, and shown in thedrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tape support formed in accordance withthis invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the support shown in Figure 1, furtherillustrating the form of the device.

Figure 3 is a side view, in elevation, of the device, shown in Figure 1,further illustrating the general conformation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken from one end of Figure 1near the corner thereof, and illustrating the latch element which areprovided.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the support with the tape loopengaging elements in one position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 5, showing the tapeloop engaging members in another position.

Figure 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view, somewhat similar to thedisclosure of Figure 4, showing the manner of engagement of the tapeloop by the loop engaging member; the same being in locked or fullyengaged position with the latch element.

Figure 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, showing a portion of aVenetian blind as mounted in a window, and generally indicating themanner of use of the tape supports of this invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the tape support of this invention includes a bodydesignated l, of substantially rectangular outline, the same beingpreferably formed of light gauge metal or the like. As shown in Figures1, 2 and 3, the end at the right in Figure 1 is bent downwardly so as toform a skirt designated 2, from which a mounting lug designated 3extends to a somewhat lower point, and includes a suitable openingtherein adapted to engage a main supporting member in a Venetian blindas will be more clearly set forth subsequently. At the opposite end, thesaid end is similarly formed, including a downwardly extending skirtsection 4 from which depends to a further extent a supporting lug 5. Thesupporting lug 5 includes the mounting opening 6 therein, said mountingopening 6 being aligned with the corresponding mounting opening in thelug 3 at the opposite end of the body.

Since both sides of the body are similarly formed with the provision forengaging the loops of the tapes in the Venetian blinds, only one will bespecifically described, it being understood that the other side of thebody is similarly formed and includes corresponding elements.

Referring therefore to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, it is noted that thetape loop engaging member I is in the form of a finger-like member whichis integrally connected at 8 to the body I, the finger a thereof beingspaced from the body portion, and as shown in Figure 4 bent at 8upwardly and over into a position, where the same lies substantiallyparallelwith the body I, and nearthe edge thereof. It \vill'be'noted asshown in F-igure 1 that the finger 9 is spaced slightly inwardly fromthe side or edge of the body, for purposes which will be understoodhereinafter.

The latching element or construction, generally designated it andclearly shownin the consideration of Figures 1 and i, includes a'portion lanced from the corner of the body and bent upwardly at i i, andthence inwardly asat i2,'so as to form a latch member including a stopsection'formecl by the upward bend i l and the forwardly-extendingportion i2.

it-will be apparent that in viewof the relatively thin, narrowandllongt'formation .-ofthe finger 9, that the same will be ofsubstantially resilientnnature so as to be moved into the positionsshown in dotted lines in Figure 1; where- :by theend E3 of the finger 8may be moved from apposition above the inwardly extending portion i2into a position below the same and into en- Jgagemcnt :with the stopsection including'the portions ii and it of the latch member iii. Thus,

the tape loop engaging "meansprovi es ready mounting fora tape such asis shown in Figure 7 designated ial 'which tape i includes a loop 15.iormed bybending the extremity it of the side of the tape back uponitself and fastening the same by the: fastening it or any equivalentthereof. -There isithus'provided suitable quickly operable means forattaching and detaching theloops of :Venetian blindtapes to therespective loop engagingnieana'it being understood that the'meansspecifically described hereinbeforeuare provided at opposite edges orsides of the body of the tape support.

Figure-S) which wili support the'pin or bearing which is provided for apulley.

Figures' and (i, somewhat fragmentary in na- 'ture,-show the manner ofmanipulating the respectivcnngcrs' 9 so as to be moved into lockedunlocked positions for retaining the tapes in position in connectionwith the support, or disthe icon of the tape therefrom.

s shown in Figure 8, the tape supports are intendcd to be mounted upon amain supporting which supporting member is connectedat ii to a tilt unitdesignated 22, and at its opposite end is carried in a bracket 23 of acord io'ck unit 2%. As is well known, suitable manipulation of the tiltunit 22 by means of the cords EE'a-nd 26 thereof, will cause'a tiltingor rotative action of the main-support 20, the tape "supports of thisinvention being shown at 21 and the same usually being provided in pairsalthough in large or wide blinds where more tapes are required to befurnished, additional tape sup- '-ports"are likewise intended to be.provided.

It will be apparent that suitable manipulation of the cords 25 and 26 aspreviously mentioned, with the tapes I4, suitably connected to the tapesupports 21 and 28, will cause the slats 29 to be rotated or tilted asrequired. Suitable manipulation of the lift cord 3!) usually provided,and trained over pulleys carried in the tape supports 2l'and 2a,wi-lLraise and. lower the blinds as is usually required.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent zthat there has been heredescribed and illustrated,

a novel form of tape support, formed of an integral'ccnstruction,including novel tape loop enjgaging rneans, which are releasable asoccasion :dcmands formounting or dismounting tapes in connectiontherewith, which supporting means member integrally connected at one endto the body and extending 'therealong, and a latch element-adjacenttheother end of said member for 'releasably engaging the same, the freeend of .the

engaging member beingposition'able above and below said latch element.

*ZoA tape supporters claimed in claim 1, wherein the loopengagingimember comprises a relatively long narrow section,.integrallyformed with thebodyand extend substantially parallel theretoironiione-end toward the opposite end and the latch element isintegralwith the body'and formed at the said opposite end.

anew-article of manufacture, comprising a body, integral mounting iugsextending downwardly therefrom atopposite ends and'comprising fiat bentextensions of the :body, apair oifinger-like tape loop engagingmemberseach integrally form6dat-one end with the body extending substantially.parallel thereto from a first end near the edges of the :body, saidmembers being bent up over the face of said body, and an integral latchelement for each membertstruck upwardly'near the other end of saidbody,and having provisions for releasably engaging corresponding ends of saidmembers,

Ast a new articlezof manufacture, a one-piece tape-supporting member,comprising a substantiallyrectangular flat body, a' pair of' tape loopengaging ringers each integral at one end with the body, andhaving free.opposite ends, extend- -ing fromone end of the body bent upwardly. and.over saidbody near the sides into substantial parallelism with eachother and with the body, and

latch elements for each finger integral with and forming parts bent fromthe body and extending :upwardly from corresponding corners thereof, and.having'stop sections for receiving the free ends of the fingersaforesaid.

RICHARD H. WRIGHT.

.References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 2,552,841 'Cha'rbonneau May 15, 1951 2,575,977 SchaeferNov. 20, 1951 2,579,137 Bruner Dec. 18, 1951

